USE OF ANGIOGRAPHY TO OUTLINE THE CARDIOVASCULAR ANATOMY OF THE SAND CRAB PORTUNUS-PELAGICUS LINNAEUS

A method for cardiac angiography of crustaceans is described which all ows the pattern and volume of hemolymph flow to be observed in living animals. In Portunus pelagicus, 91% of hemolymph flow was via the ster nal aorta into the ventral thoracic artery and into its radiating late ral subbranches which supply the walking legs. The ventricular wall (e picardium plus myocardium) appeared structurally complex and capable o f taking up and retaining radioopaque dye, but the actual lumen of the ventricle appeared to be relatively small. A technique for quantifyin g stroke volume is outlined, which gave estimates that fall within rep orted values for similar crabs. Notes are included on the possible ext ension of the technique by the use of videodensitometry.